Parliament.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXV, Issue 3829, 9 July 1908, Page 3

Parliament.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30 p.m. A number of Bills were introduced and read a first time. Hons. Carncross, Reeves, Rigg, and Thompson were nominated for the position of Chairman of Committee, and Mr Reeves was declared elected. Hon. S. T. George resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. He thought the Arbitration Act should be hungmp for a year, and if then we had no industrial peace, an amendiing Act could be introduced. The Council adojurned at 4.25 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Massey asked whether the Government would give the House an opportunity of amending the Electoral Act in the direction of ensuring greater secrecy. The Premier, replying, doubted whether the matter could be dealt with this session. He had had no complaints of want of secrecy. Ministers replying to questions, said they did not intend to introduce legislation enabling a colonial vote with a bare majority to be taken on the licensing question. That the printing of the main electoral rolls at the Government Printing Office was in accordance with the Act, and of great advantage to the Electoral Department. That there would be no increase of the graduated income tax. The Government did not purpose to employ canvassers to enrol electors. The cost would be between £7OOO and £BOOO. A Bill dealing with some pressing amendments to the Municipal Corporations Act will probably be introduced. Excursion railway fares could not be extended to country people on market days. The Government had no present intention to increase the duty on Oregon pine. The Government had no intention to amend the Land Act this session. The Government did not consider it desirable to discontinue the branding of boxes of butter after grading, leaving the Home buyers to purchase the produce on its merits. The Government would consider suggestions for placing rifle clubs on a better footinng. The Government hoped to submit proposals this session dealing with uniform school books for the Dominion. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House met at 7.30. When the Loan Bill for £1,250,0q0 was introduced, the second reading was set down for next day. The motion for the third reading of the Meikle Acquittal Bill was carried by 37 to 17. The second reading of the Arbitration Act Amendment Bill pro forma was carried.